84 The Hare and Tortoise; a Fable. Would oft deride the drudging crowd: He'd boast his flight 't were vain to follow, "Twas 'done' and 'done,' all fair, 'a bet,' The scampering hare outstripp'd the wind; I'll take a nap, and then be with thee." The Orphan Boy. The tortoise heard his taunting jeer, On to the goal securely crept, While puss unknowing soundly slept. 85 LLOYD. THE ORPHAN BOY. ALAS! I am an orphan boy, With nought on earth to cheer my heart; Nor kin nor kind to take my part. My lodging is the cold, cold ground; I eat the bread of charity; And when the kiss of love goes round There is no kiss, alas! for me. I 86 The Orphan Boy. Yet once I had a father dear, A mother too I wont to prize, With ready hand to wipe the tear, If chanc'd a transient tear to rise; But cause of tears was rarely found, For all my heart was youthful glee: And when the kiss of love went round, How sweet a kiss there was for me! But ah! there came a war, they say. What is a war, I cannot tell : But drums and fifes did sweetly play, And loudly rang our village bell. In truth it was a pretty sound 1 thought, nor could I thence foresee That when the kiss of love went round, There soon should be no kiss for me. A scarlet coat my father took, And sword as bright, as bright could be; And feathers, that so gaily look, All in a shining cap had he, The Orphan Boy. Then how my little heart did bound! Alas! I thought it fine to see; 87 Nor dreamt that when the kiss went round, There soon should be no kiss for me. At length the bell again did ring; There was a victory, they said; 'Twas what my father said he'd bring; But ah! it brought my father dead. My mother shriek'd: her heart was woe: She clasp'd me to her trembling knee. O God! that you may never know How wild a kiss she gave to me! But once again—but once again, These lips a mother's kisses felt. That once again-that once again,The tale a heart of stone would melt'Twas when, upon her death-bed laid; O God! O God! that sight to see! "My child!-My child!" she feebly said, And gave a parting kiss to me. 88 Against Slavery. So now am I an orphan boy, With nought below my heart to cheer: And when the kiss of love goes round, THELWALL. AGAINST SLAVERY. I WOULD not have a slave to till my ground, And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth COWPER. |